Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: harling@pictel.uucp (Dan Harling) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Re^4: Campus Crusade Message-ID: Date: 7 Jun 91 03:13:55 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: PictureTel Corporation Lines: 40 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article math1h3@JANE.UH.EDU (David H. Wagner) writes: >I agree that we have to be concerned about things like hunger, housing, etc. >But our first priority has to be the preaching of the gospel--the gospel of >forgiveness and eternal life. What good does it do if I feed someone, yet >they suffer eternal punishment? The greatest commandments, according to Jesus, are to love the Lord your God, and to love your neighbor. We feed and clothe people because we love them. We talk to people about God and Jesus because we love them. You have the capacity to clothe and feed someone. You do not have the capacity to save them. All you can do is love; that is your job. If someone suffers eternal punishment, that is not your fault. Spreading the Gospel should be a by-product of our daily lives, but not the entire purpose. We set a bad example if we preach a Gospel of Love, yet not demonstrate our Love in other areas. Our message is much more credible if we express our love by other means as well. If we feel compelled to spread the Gospel merely because "Jesus told us to," we are missing the point. I love God, and if I spend any time around other people, His name will inevitably be brought up, because He is so very important to me. One's salvation indeed has far more profound an effect on an individual than these more "temporal" comforts, but we are not the ones who give him salvation; that is God's exclusive right. If we minister to others in Love, we are doing our job. That includes clothing the naked and feeding the hungry, just as much as "witnessing." Witnessing is an important part of our general ministry, but it is not the sole purpose! >David H. Wagner ______________________________________________________________________ Daniel A. Harling PictureTel, Inc. Rockport, MA Peabody, MA Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of PictureTel, Inc.; they are MINE, ALL MINE! (So there.) ---- === ====